Vatican official attacks U.S. Democrats as “party of death”

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Vatican officials seldom single out political leaders who differ with the Church on issues like abortion rights or embryonic stem cell research. But now that the Vatican’s highest court is led by an American, the former St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, we can expect things to get more explicit in Vatican City — at least when when it comes to U.S. politics.

He said Biden and Pelosi, “while presenting themselves as good Catholics, have presented Church doctrine on abortion in a false and tendentious way.”

Pelosi drew U.S. bishops’ scorn for saying in a television interview last month that the Church itself had long debated when human life begins. Biden is a practicing Catholic who also supports abortion rights and analysts have said he could help woo wavering Catholics into Obama’s fold. Both argue that they cannot impose their religious views on others.

Burke said pro-life Democrats were “rare” and that it saddened him that the party that helped “our immigrant parents and grandparents” prosper in America had changed so much over the years.

Burke made headlines as archbishop of St. Louis for his public attacks on public figures who strayed from Catholic teaching. He suggested during the 2004 presidential campaign that Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, a Catholic, should be denied communion because of his views on abortion. Several bishops said at the time they would not give him communion and the media staked out churches where he attended Mass to see if he received it.

“Lately, I’ve noticed that other bishops are coming to this position,” Burke told Avvenire, which is owned by the Italian bishops’ conference.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, wrote a letter in 2004 to American bishops restating the Church position that a priest must refuse to distribute communion to a Catholic politician who supported abortion rights. But Burke lamented that the letter was never distributed.

Burke’s criticism isn’t limited to Democrats. Last year, he accused singer Sheryl Crow of being “a high profile proponent of the destruction of innocent lives” for defending a woman’s right to have an abortion and for being a proponent of stem cell research. He resigned as head of a children’s medical charity that featured the singer for a benefit concert.

Pope Benedict has been encouraging Catholic bishops to speak out more openly on public policy issues to make the Church’s voice heard. Any bets on when we’ll hear from Burke next?

I am a mother and a wife of 13 years. When we miscarried it was one of the saddest times in our lives. The day I was blessed with my son I found it to be one of the most joyfullest experience. I do realize that there are women who have unplanned pregnancies- worst cases even raped. I don’t want to get into a blog debate or point the figure at anyone. As a women I just can’t understand how life can be taken away regardless the circumstances. On average every day, over 3500 viable babies are aborted in the USA alone.. That’s over 1.2 million abortions every year here. War is soldier to soldier and sadly civilian are lost. I lost a good friend myself. Abortion is mother to child. My heart feels broken as it did when I lost my child at14weeks. I think about what he or she could be like. Yes I believe in God. I am not a Catholic. I do believe that we as a people-especially women should do something to end the right to abort. Unfortunately there are no real leaders that have courage to get the ball rolling to put a complete stop to Abortion. So I don’t think it truly matters what political party, what church you are a part of. If a baby dies before it is born — as in an abortion — the woman who conceived it is still a “mother.”

The Catholic Church has always been Pro-Life and will always be Pro Life. If a Catholic does not agree with the Church’s teachings and doctrine then they need to leave the church. Abortion is the murder of a human being.

Everyone is overlooking the fact that the Catholic Church did nothing about the forced abortions taking place in the Marianas Islands (Saipan), a U.S. territory, for the past 15 years. Various Catholic officials and groups were informed and asked to intercede on behalf of 11,000 women (not a child among them). However, they allowed the practice to continue and never interceded with any of the “pro-life” Republican politicians who prevented U.S. labor law from being applied to the Marianas Islands. Human Rights Watch has condemned Catholic Church labor policies in the U.S. The issue was finally resolved after the Democrats took control of Congress in 2006 and certain “pro-life” Republicans were defeated.

If the Democrats are the Party of Death then Archbishop Burke represents the Church of Forced Abortion . There are many other similar titles which could be applied but I will forgo the opportunity to list them.

Glad someone is finally speaking the ABSOLUTE TRUTH about this issue… Not only is the liberal agenda (and especially Obama) all for infanticide in EVERY form, including AFTER a child has been fully born (See BornAliveTruth.org), but it should also be noted that Obama’s government-run “healthcare” plan will take medical care and treatments away from the elderly and high-risk patients and give them instead to illegals, pregnant teens for abortions, and all the welfare-class individuals who refuse to work and choose to eat at McDonald’s every day… This will serve to institute the large-scale practice of EUTHANASIA in America, which will be passed off as being necessary and as “having mercy” on the “suffering” of society (i.e., those they deem as useless, including the elderly, disabled and special needs individuals). The left-wing academia has been advocating this kind of euthanasia doctrine for many, many years now… Remember Terri Schiavo? That will become an everyday thing when Obama’s socialized medicine programs are implemented!

I am sad that people will allow themselves to blame the faith itself for the sins or mistakes humans have comitted. Whether it be someone in the church or not we are all human. As for woman having the right to their reproductions. Give me a break. What give us the right to play God and decide who gets to live or die. You seems to be forgetting another human being involved here who does’t get to decide if they get to live or die. I pray that people will realize this.

I am saddened by so many comments here that devalue innocent life to promote their personal agendas – they follow the theme outlined in the article – a type of “ends justify the means”. Democrats (and some Republicans, I’m sure) should be ashamed they have lost hold of the truth and have become happy maintaining their moral “low” ground. Thank God for the priests and other leaders not fearing to stand up and speak calling evil evil. There is a better way.

I find it unbelievable that I am reading comments about Iran being so victimized. It is proof to me that Liberals have been so badly brainwashed that DIRECT threats right from the mouth of Ahmadineshad are ignored. Iran is amongst the most energy rich regions on the planet and when they claim that their nuclear program is “energy” based it is accepted as truth. I KNOW that the Democrats have no intentions of reacting to the threat posed by Iran. I strongly believe that the Democrats are the party of death. OUR death.

JS, saying that when life begins is a matter of opinion is like saying that a flat earth is a matter of opinion.

As I said before, I’m an agnostic with no opinion on God or gods, but I do know that the life of a fish begins when a cell from its father combines with a cell from its mother to produce a new, individual fish. If you don’t kill the developing fish, it will swim off one day.

The lives of a person, a dog, a lemur, a mouse, or a sparrow begin at conception. That’s the simplest scientific fact.

If you’re not sure it’s a person because it doesn’t look like one, watch it for a while. If it grows into a child, you can be sure it wasn’t some invasive parasite or a tumor.

All life begins at conception and will continue to grow if nutured. We need more Catholics speaking the truth, instead of the Pelosi’s and Biden’s, either misrepresenting the truth, or taking the easy way out and saying “I will not impose my views on others”. That is what all politicians do, so when it comes to abortion it’s different???
Why upon reading these comments do I see so much on what to do with “unwanted children”? What child is unwanted? That is a disgusting thing to say. Anyone ever hear of ADOPTION? Abortion is so selfish, and thinking you can’t afford a child is just ridiculous. So many couples would be happy to raise a child. The pro-choice movement never sees adoption as a choice. And even here, the pro-lifers forget about it.
Think carefully before you vote. Abortion is evil, and it is the evil that leads to so many others. The pain and suffering it leaves behind is devastating.

It’s such a joke for the Vatican to prosecute Liberal Democrats for being “pro-choice”, at the very moment that it is promoting the canonization of “Hitler’s Pope”, Pius XII, who NEVER used any of the powerful weapons he had in his quiver against ANY of the many, many Roman Catholic ultra-conservative “pro-life” ( i.e. anti-abortion) leaders of the Nazi regime:
What did Pope Pius XII do about any of these Roman Catholic architects of the Jewish holocaust: Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Josef Goebbels, Reinhard Heydrich, Rudolf Hoess, Julius Streicher, Fritz Thyssen, Klaus Barbie, and Franz Von Papen or
R. C. Engelbert Dollfuss who was head of the Nazi state of Austria.
R. C. Leon Degrelle who was head of the Nazi state of Belgium.
R. C. Emil Hacha who was head of the Nazi state of Bohemia-Moravia.
R. C. Ante Pavelic who was head of the Nazi state of Croatia.
R. C. Adolf Hitler who was head of the Nazi state of Germany.
R. C. Miklos Horthy who was head of the Nazi state of Hungary.
R. C. Konrad Henlein who was head of the Nazi state of Sudetenland.
R. C. Pierre Laval who was head of the Nazi state of Vichy-France.
R. C. Henry Petain who was head of the Nazi state of Vichy-France.
R. C. priest, Fr. Augustin Voloshin who was head of the Nazi state of Ruthenia.
R. C. priest, Fr. Josef Tiso who was head of the Nazi state of Slovakia.
R. C. priest, Fr. Andrei Hlinka who was head of the Nazi state of Slovakia.
R. C. priest, Fr. Anton Koroshec who was head of the Nazi state of Yugoslavia.
Did Pope Pius XII excommunicate any of these the most visible Catholics in their countries at the time? NO. How can anyone say that this pope did “all that he could”, when he failed to take this obvious measure so as to make it clear to the millions of Catholic faithful who were enabling the Nazis to carry out their campaigns of mass murder, not only against Jews, but against their fellow Catholics in Poland, that they should have no part in these monstrous of crimes and most mortal of sins?
On the other hand, after the Nazis were defeated and no longer posed any threat to the pope, the Vatican, or the Catholic Church anywhere, did Pope Pius XII allow the Vatican to be used to protect thousands of Catholic war criminals such as the above to escape punishment for their war crimes? YES. Whose side was the pope on?

It is true in a sense that the Democrats (particularly Sen. Obama) have shown themselves to be a “party of death.” Speaker Pelosi tried to manipulate what the Church teaches about when life begins showing confusion. Sen. Biden claims to be Catholic and yet, in order to rise in the political sector, will stray from his faith to support abortion in order to obtain votes. Sen. Obama has voted against medical care for children who have survived an abortion. I thought he was FOR universal health care? Now that these children are “living” human beings (now that they are outside the womb), why will he not support their entitlement to health care?

When we start to qualify what life deserves protection with the defenseless unborn children, who else will lose their right? The elderly who become more of a burden in intensive nursing facilities – especially once their medicare or other health insurance runs away from their obligations (as we did by bailing out the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac quagmire)? Our bishops and pastors were given the authority by Jesus to treat those who disregard Church teachings as tax collectors and sinners (Matt 18: 15-22). Of course, that is after a period of attempts to bring our brother/sister back through charitable fraternal correction. Our bishops have tried that. I think we are near that last step. When parents do not follow through on their promises (and threats of punishment) with their children, their children soon learn that their words mean little.

I am a St Louis, practicing Catholic. I am father who has been and is raising 4 children in the faith while supporting my parish and our school. Many of our immigrant fore fathers and mothers fled miserable conditions in countries and cultures where the heirarchy of Catholic church was in bed with the wealthy and abusive leadership. In the US they are in the pocket of the Republican party. Good riddance to Raymond Burke, I hope he votes in Italy…

It seems to me that Pascal’s wager apply’s very well concerning the issue of abortion. Whether a zygote, an embryo, or a fetus is a living human being is not the issue. It is an accepted medical fact that life begins at conception, this is indisputable. At conception growth begins, metabolism begins, these are recognized signs of life and any biologist studying the DNA will clearly identify it as human, hence, it is Human Life. The question is when does this human life become a person, for it is the ‘person’ that has an unalienable right to LIFE, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Here’s where Pascal’s wager comes in. There are four possibilities –
1)It is a person and you defend it as such.
2)It is a person and you deny that fact.
3)It is not a person and you defend it as though it were.
4)It is not a person and you agree with that fact.

Scenarios 1 and 3 describe the Pro-Life advocates. The best that can be said of them is that they recognize the unborn for what they are and have chosen to defend them as best they can. The worst that can be said of them is they are defending something that is not a person, however, given the natural course of events, eventually will become a person.
Scenearios 2 and 4 describe the Pro-Choice side. The best that can be said of them is that they recognize the unborn for what they are not and have chosen to defend a woman’s choice to have sex without consequences, no harm, no foul. However, the worst that can be said of them is that they are defending murder of the most helpless and innocent of our society.
It seems to me the only ethical choice is to err on the side of life. If I’m wrong, then I’ve spent my life trying to raise society to a higher level of morality; to bring a little bit of dignity back to the act of human sexuality, rather than just using another person to get my rocks off. But, if you’re wrong…than God help you, you are defending one of the most horrific and heinous behaviors ever know to man.
Oh, by the way, just an interesting statistic, there have been over fifty million abortions in the United States alone since Roe vs. Wade was decided 35 years ago. Fifty million…if that’s not a holocaust or genocide I don’t know what is.

This article is not about war. How can you pro-choice people compare abortion to war? A helpless unborn child has no voice on whether it can be allowed to live or be killed. But a soldier who is well aware of his actions and able to determine right from wrong and can very well put down his gun and walk away, CHOOSES to engage in the killing of other people. There is a BIG difference here. Why can’t you people see that??

Nate said: If you aren’t ready for a kid, and cant afford to have a kid, don’t have sex. Simple. Short. Consise. The choice to have sex, comes with the possible outcome of having a kid. Biology, learn it and live it.
Morons…..
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People seem to believe they have a right to do whatever they want to do, including having sex however & whenever they want it, without having to be confronted by any of the consequences. Life doesn’t work that way.

To see why “Liberals Like Christ” clergy like myself understand and support the need to respect the right of women to govern their own reproductive lives without dictates by hypocritical and/or pedophile, supposedly “celibate” clergy MEN, see http://JesusWouldBeFurious.Org/Christian Choice .

Iran’s “right” to uranium enrichment? Are you serious? Why would an oil PRODUCER require nuclear energy? You think they are just looking for alternative energy to appease the environmentalists? I don’t hear about Israel threatening to blow Iran off the map, but I do hear a lot of ‘fightings words’ from Iran.

I think the more neo-con catholics (whether bishops or not) fight against progress and an enlightened society, the less influence the church has in the world. I’m not sure Joseph Ratsinger understands this very well. The more conservative he and his bishops are, the less relevant the institutional church becomes.

what nuclear war with iran are you guys talking about?? wake up!!! youve created a war that doesnt exsist… democratic party is the party of fanatical secularits that wish they were apart of some sort of revolution that will “change” the world !?! they view everything in a 1960′s point of view… its made up of young educated inexperienced brats … along with adults that never grew up.

You crazy a** pro-lifers are out of your minds. You cannot sit there and tell anyone that a newly-formed ball of cells in some woman’s uterus is a human being (one with rights no less). Let’s be real here. If you’re pro-life, then be pro-life and NEVER kill or lobby to kill a thing. That means no bad guys in prison. No trees and other biological life. No marching over to someone else’s country and bombing its people to death. Every pro-lifer out there is a HYPOCRITE for that very reason. Kill everyone and everything else, but don’t destroy a handful of cells that don’t even qualify as a child. That being said, I am conservative, and in any normal circumstances, I would never terminate a child growing inside of me under normal circumstances, however, if I were raped tomorrow, I would be downing the morning after pill as if it were to save my life (or the abortion pill for that matter). I could never bring a child into the world out of such an atrocity – and if you are one of those idiots that hates when people argue this point, then you are just that, a VERY selfish idiot (that I’m nearly 100% positive would be changing your tune if this happened to you or someone close to you). That also being said, if by some divine intervention that happened and pregnancy happened to go further into term than the first few weeks to months, I would NOT terminate, as I believe partial birth abortion is just as terrible. To simply put this, this is NOT a black and white issue (read everything I just wrote), and furthermore, the goverment has no place legislating moral or religious issues, which this is anyway. That in and of itself is socialism. Who are you to try and dictate what anyone does in their personal lives with their significant other and their children or would-be children. Are you going to be there to support (physically, emotionally, and financially) the poor mother that you want to force to have that child when he or she is born into this world? If not then sit down and shut up. It’s none of your business. By the way, the dirty Catholic church especially has no bearing here at all. They have committed such atrocities throughout history they should be hiding in the shadows and praying for themselves. Whatever they have to say about anything is not only irrelevant, but shows a complete lack of focus on what they really need to be focusing on, which is themselves. They need to pull the plank out of their eyes before pointing out the spec in our society’s.

Not matter what all this rubbish above points to, the bottom line is that there is and certainly never will be a resolution to any problem as long as people are seeing the world only through the limited focus of whatever they think these two parties actually represents. For crying out loud are there any independent thinkers out there???? Is the two party system simply a convenient way for idiots to simply fight about something that no one really understands and no one can really ever take care of? Do you all really think that we can just simply fix all of this crap by only thinking about things in such a narrow minded and idiotic way of thinking. Do you think some sort of God put all of us here to bicker about EVERYTHING in this manner? Get out of your anthropocentric and stuck heads and REALLY, REALLY think about things!!!!!!!

I think we all need to go back to the saying “What would Jesus do”. So what did he do? He lived his life so as to provide us with an example of what it means to sacrifice self for the sake of another. The total opposite of selfishness, he gave his whole self, even to the point of death. So what is self-sacrifice? Is it to take the easiest, most comfortable road possible? Or- is it to take the road that that is the most difficult, most contrary to our human nature so as to do whatever possible to help our fellow man? Maybe that is why many times the “right” decision seems so foreign to us, because it goes against our very nature to be comfortable. So you decide. Which is more difficult? To have an abortion to “take care of a problem” or to give up our very lives for a totally separate, distinct life within us? (The separate/distinct part is just a scientific fact.) And are they really our bodies to begin with? Don’t forget 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price.” Let’s even go so far as to take the most horrific example- rape. Can you imagine how difficult it would be for a woman who had been raped to carry a baby (conceived by rape) to term? She would sacrifice everything for 9 whole months- to give up her life for this child within her- to allow God’s grace to take over and His will to be fulfilled- remember Romans 8:28? “We know God causes ALL THINGS to work together for GOOD”. Let’s face it- children are a blessing no matter how they are conceived (Psalm 127:3-5). Who are we to put limits on God. What is to stop God from taking a child conceived out of rape and making him someone great? How do we have the right to snuff out this life simply because of the torture or embarrassment we would suffer? We adopted one of our children and have no idea of the circumstances of his conception, but he has been nothing but a blessing to our family. If he had been conceived by rape, we would not love him any less. Let us not presume to know or understand the ways of God (Isaiah 55:8) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” But let us instead ask his Holy Spirit to come into our hearts to teach us His way, His truth, and His life. Let’s listen to the voice of the Lord as He spoke to Jeremiah (1:5) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” And even if you still aren’t convicted of this, just ask our Lord to write His truth in your heart- and He will. So what would Jesus do?

It’s nice how you twist the words of the bible to fit this subject. This subject is discussed nowhere in the bible, and furthermore, the point is that this is something that should be left between the person and God, not legislated by the government. In fact, our wonderful God is not always so wonderful and self-sacrificing himself. Just read Leviticus – he speaks about punishing people by death left and right (even innocent children of the wicked) – so don’t fool yourself into believing he is an advocate of every life out there. That is a practically a fairy tale. Do you really think if Roe v Wade were overturned that it would stop abortions? Even if it is mandated by state if that happens, not all states will outlaw it, you can be sure of that. And even if they did, it would be done illegally (and more horrifically God forbid) here still, or outside the country. You and many like yourself out there have fooled yourselves into believing this is only a recent problem since it’s gained attention – abortion has been going on for longer than you think and everywhere on this earth – long before several of your ancestors were even born. No matter what the legislation is in this country, you will never stop it – it will still be done either illegally or elsewhere. You can do nothing about it, so it should be left out of politics where it belongs. Besides, do you really think those conservative or republican politicians out there really care about abortion (they are even guilty of it themselves!)? They use it to manipulate you only for your vote. You are just their naive little pawn. Why is that every time a republican has been president since abortion was made legal they have done nothing about it to overturn that judgement? They don’t care. They just want your vote. So this should no longer even be a political argument.

Homosexuals force gay marriage down our throat all the time. Leftists are mad that religion preserves decency because if people have no decency they can peddle their filth all they want. Actually, society has stepped way over the boundary and enslaved itself with sex and egoism. People living with each other out of wedlock and having sex outside of marriage destroys the nucleus of society: the family. The cultural revolution has pushed our soceity over a cliff, making people cold and indifferent, pursuing hedonistic pleasures with no regard for self or neighbor. Jesus said that he destroyed the law through showing the Father’s love, but that not one letter of the law has been removed. Looking to preserve society morals is not casting stones, it’s preserving the decency which allows love to flourish through helping each other, not taking the easy way out of erasing a life.

That still doesn’t change the fact that the right uses abortion only to steal your vote. They don’t care, and they will never outlaw it, so people need to stop even considering this when they vote. And your views on society morals should never be imposed on anyone through government. Not everyone sees the world the way you do, and thus the country should not be run based on your view either. That is offensive to everyone else’s values and morals out there that conflict with yours, no matter what they are. Just because you don’t see it their way, it doesn’t make them wrong, or anti-Christian, and even if they were not Christian, it does not make them wrong or immoral human beings as you suggest.

There are many subjects not discussed specifically in the Bible, but I’m curious what does Jeremiah 1:5 mean to you? “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” Abortion can no more be left between the person and God, than murder. What about the 5th commandment “Thou shalt not kill?” Or are you one of those people who argues abortion is not killing an actual person? We have laws in place to protect people and there is no longer any debate that these unborn babies are people.
As for our God- Jesus died to accept the punishment for all our sins. God no longer punishes “the wicked” on earth like He did in the Old Testament. That is why you don’t find any of the stories in the New Testament like the ones in Leviticus.
I know if Roe vs. Wade were overturned it would no more stop abortions than laws against murder prevent drive by shootings. The point is, if abortion is accepted by our society as a reasonable solution, we cannot expect God to bless our nation. Luke 12:31 “Seek first His kingdom and these other things will be given you besides.”
You say abortion should be left out of politics, however, you are fighting to keep a law in place allowing it. I encourage you to educate yourself before making your comments. Actually, in 2002, President Bush signed the Born Alive Infants Protection Act which reaffirms the legal principle that all infants born alive are entitled to the full protection of the law. This came about because congress received testimony that some infants who had been born alive after unsuccessful abortions were left to die in the soiled linen closets. Also in 2003, Bush signed the Partial- Birth Abortion Ban prohibiting the barbaric practice of abortionists where, the baby’s entire body is delivered except for the head. The abortionist then jams scissors into the baby’s skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole and removed. A suction catheter is inserted to suck out the baby’s brains causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed. My… how far we have come as a society. Obama has said, “The first thing I will do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.” (FOCA) FOCA would nullify all the protective legislature regulating the abortion industry including partial-birth abortion, the Infants Protection Act, parental consent laws, as well as waiting periods. At least a Republican president would not take us back to these horrible practices. Here is a quote from Mother Theresa which pretty much sums it up…
“America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father’s role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts — a child — as a competitor, an intrusion, and an inconvenience. It has nominally accorded mothers unfettered dominion over the independent lives of their physically dependent sons and daughters”
And, in granting this unconscionable power, it has exposed many women to unjust and selfish demands from their husbands or other sexual partners. Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being’s entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign.” (Mother Theresa — “Notable and Quotable,” Wall Street Journal, 2/25/94, p. A14)

You cannot claim that “the Church is not attempting to impose a moral code upon others” while it is attempting to coerce politicians into imposing that moral code, that’s disingenuous at best, and laughably dishonest at worst.

The cold fact of the matter is that when you are elected into Congress in the United States you swear an oath to uphold the Constitution. You have an ethical obligation to uphold that oath, even should it conflict with your moral code.

Here’s the oath:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

Since you add “God” at the end, you actually now also have a moral obligation to uphold that oath, or you’re taking the Lord’s name in vain… something that (cough cough) comes higher on the list than “thou shalt not kill”, no?

The question of whether or not abortion constitutes murder is a moral question, based upon a *theological* concept of when life begins. It is therefore an imposition of a religious doctrine to ban abortion outright… this is forbidden by the establishment clause.

Therefore, you have a quandary, as a Catholic politician… you have an ethical and moral obligation to *not* vote to ban abortion, and a moral obligation *to* prevent abortion.

This is one instance where the duty and obligation of Congresspeople in the United States is (to my mind) absolutely clear; they cannot vote for a ban on abortion, either ethically or morally, but they are required to bear the consequence of that decision.

So, either don’t run for office as a Catholic, or accept the fact that you’re suspended from active participation in the Church while you serve, or go argue it out with the Pope.

Burke is actively asking Catholic politicians to violate their oath of office, I’m surprised nobody has called him out on this.

It’s totaly amzing to me that some of you on here think that life exists only at birth. I suppose that’s your way of justifying abortion. In consideration of that thought process, then you aren’t killing anything. The unborn is the most defenseless of the defenseless. So all of you who are trying to compare abortion to collateral damage in wartime are just kidding yourselves. It always amazes me that liberals always criticize the war (and these Islamo Fascists want us all dead) but are perfectly fine with abortion. Not being judgmental as only our Creator reserves that right but I pray you all wake up before it’s too late.

Unfortunately in the Diocese of Stockton, California, USA, our bishop has pushed a pro-Democrat agenda on the Catholics of this diocese. He recently stated
“…under the Democrats, there have been fewer abortions.” That is not a truth. Actually, it is through the actions of a very positive, dedicated pro-life group (of all faiths) that abortions are down – not low enough,but still fewer. Through offering support to unwed mothers or mothers with unwanted pregnancies, that much of this has come about. The Catholic church in many communities is active in this effort. – But as I said, our bishop subscribes to the USCCB policies which, in the opinion of many of us Republicans and conservative Democrats falls short of what we are called to do as Christians.

The reason the number of surgical abortions is fewer is because of the availability of “chemical abortions” such as RU 486 or the “morning after pill”. The actual number of abortions including surgical and chemical is estimated at an all time high- however there is no way to actually calculate it since women can now just take a pill. May God have mercy on our nation!

I find it truly amazing that this election is exposing the true colors of some spiritual leaders, and even the Vatican and Pope. I don’t think that the issues they are using to defamate the Democratic party leaders are necessary or acceptable. I am certain that the Lord is watching and taking notes, because He says,” 1. Judge not, that you be not judged. 2. For with what you judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measure back to you. 3. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4. Or how can you say to your brother,’ Let me remove the speck from your eye; and look a plank is in your own eye? 5. Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 12. Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophet. 15. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 21. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven ( The last time I checked, judging, is not doing The Father’s will. Only He can judge!) 22. Many will say to Me in that day,’ Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? 23. And then I will declare to them, ‘ I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matthew 7: 1-5, 12,15,21-23.

Thus, beware my Brothers and Sisters. Those who are voiceful and stakes claims at the expense of the Lord are not always doing His work, and the consequences that they will pay is unimaginable.

I am a “recovering Catholic” – I am a Christian Liberal – Religion without the HATE. I am sick of the judgemental attitude of the catholic church. I was raised a catholic but have not attended mass in years because they are always pushing the political agenda. You cannot be pro-war, anti environment, anti-equality and call yourself PRO-LIFE!!

I agree with the Catholic church taking a stand on this abortion issue. Someone needs to stand up and it’s about time. Too bad the priests are afraid to get up on the pulpit and tell us like it is. War is wrong, but we need to protect our children from attacks and be proactive, not hide and wait to be attacked by those who hate us and hate freedom. Voting Democratic right now is certainly going to limit our freedoms that we so love as we get ready for the world of socialism. Abortionists will no doubt be paid less for abortions since the government will be in control of health care, therefore, the less qualified physicians will be preforming these. Maybe that’s a good thing. More deaths to our nations youth and daughters in the name of socialism. Less and less doctors will be available to perform these, because their pay rates will be controlled by the government and there is not a lot of money are praise to doctors who are supposed to pledge “First do no harm” before they are given docter privileges. We need to protect our girls from evil. Abortion is an evil act. If you have had an abortion and feel great about it there is something wrong with you. It’s great to say it’s no big deal, but the truth is there are walking wounded out there who have suffered due to an abortion. I believe having pro-life candidates is a FOR SURE sign to try and fix the flaws of abortion rights. One of these candidates has a downsyndrome child. Could this be a sign from God that we better listen as Catholics and we better stop picking and chosing what we like most about being Catholic. Will they reverse the rules on abortion? Most likely not, but I do hope and pray then when I turn my Republican vote in that they will start putting up major restrictions and or abolish this act together. It scares me that my daughter can go with out my knowledge and obtain an abortion as young as 15.
Girls can get an abortion without mom or dad knowing it as long as they can scrape up the money. They are using abortion as a birth control method. Planned Parenthood would like you to think that they are doing all they can to prevent abortions with counseling, but this is just not true. Abortion is not birth control but it sure is being used as such. Girls are immature and just trying to get out of an unplanned pregnancy so they don’t have to face mom and dad. What about the boy’s family? They are left completely out of the picture. Let’s face it, it’s big business at the expense of our American population. Now, if my daughter was raped and became pregnant it would be difficult for me to have her go through with the pregnancy, however the child is not evil- the act is. I am not sure what I would do because this child is my own relative and not a frog to be squashed without some thought. However, the majority of abortions are not the result of rape or incest. This is my potential grandchild missing. Who could this person have been? These children may be adopted- and our current adoption policies indeed are so messed up, Americans would rather adopt from China than here. That’s another issue. The laws need to be revamped to help these American women who deep down would like to keep their baby or see it adopted and feel good about doing the right thing, but cannot afford it. I would happily pay taxes to support this. I guess my point is, abortion is being used as birth control by girls behind their mother’s backs for girls between the ages of 15-20. Abortion just encourages irresponsability and way to get out of being stupid. This is wrong. What is happening to our country when a girl can go and do this without the counsel of a caring adult? Obama thinks its cool that they have a choice and openly ADMITS it. If our president thinks abortion is cool, him (Obama) being the biggest role model of the country, then why are we surprised that our youth are so messed up? They need to look up to someone who has morals. By the way if you are treated in the hospital shortly after a rape, pregnancy can be prevented with proper care. Inner city girls are getting abortions because they are not being parented or lack parents, or any type of proper sex education, or encouraged to keep themselves safe by not having sex at all. The public school system needs to encourage purity for the sake of these girls, put counselors in place in high schools so they can be helped. These are our future adults and mothers. We simply are too busy and too accepting of abortion as the status quo and have closed our eyes. We should be protecting our future population and the mental health of our girls of this country. As a Catholic this is obvious to me. We need to protect our American daughters not only from an unwanted pregnancy, but from the spread of disease. But no, this would be too moral and God like. God wants us to be happy, which is why purity is in the Bible and taught in religion class. I would like to think that He encourages purity because he does not want to see the spirit suffer from the mental anguish that occurs shortly after the abortion or many years later, when these girls marry and have see their baby’s faces and wonder…what have I done? Our youth need our help. Catholic adults voting for Obama are committing a sin and voting for EVIL. Our nation’s children should come first which is why I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree and am warmed by this Bishops comments. These children of ours need to be counseled which our country severely lacks because we have taken God out of our schools, listened to the liberal agenda serving the needs of sinners. The 10 commandments are a general unknown to our youth unless parents are actively talking their children about what is right and what is wrong. Something to think about when you vote for a someone so for abortion as Obama is and WHOLEHEARTED endorses killing a baby that has unbelievably survived a botched abortion. I guess he doesn’t care if his daughters decide to engage in this behind his back. He is a senator first and a father second and supposedly has no problem with his daughter being on an abortion table. Now, we are paying the price for all the murderous abortions with our failed economy. It’s all about money and that’s how God is trying to get our attention. God is watching. Do you care?

Heyman Writes: “You crazy a** pro-lifers are out of your minds. You cannot sit there and tell anyone that a newly-formed ball of cells in some woman’s uterus is a human being (one with rights no less). Let’s be real here.”

Let’s be real Heyman, YOU started out the same way, a newly-formed ball of cells in some woman’s uterus, or in this case YOUR mom’s uterus. You should be happy YOUR mom didn’t have an abortion. What’s that? Could YOU have prevented YOUR mom from killing you before YOU had a chance to be born? NO! It’s people like us crazy a** pro-lifers that are fighting to give ignorant people like YOU a chance to LIVE!

Let us pray that Obama does the right thing for the unborn; we are all waiting for him to MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION and we continue to pray for the unborn that they be given life as all have a right to…..

At last, a place to express my view of this debate. I used to be a Democrat, now I am a registered Republican. I could not, in good conscience, vote for Obama, Biden, or be on the side of Nancy Pelosi. We cannot elect politicians who are Catholics, and approve of abortion, assisted suicide, or emboyonic stem-cell research. They are wrong! I am disturbed that Obama got elected, us knowing he is pro-abortion. They should ALL be denied Communion – it would be a sacriledge for them to receive. Are we now turning our heads and denying they’re wrong! We must publicly stand up for the truth, we being Priests and laity.
Jeane

How a politician can claim to be a person of faith, Catholic or otherwise, then support anything pro choice is beyond me. If only one day we’d have a politician that won’t sacrifice values and beliefs for the sake of political expedience…but then I guess they wouldn’t be called a politician.

100% PRO-ABORTION right here.
He has no clue the World is approaching 8 Billion population, energy usage will cook us all via Climate Change.

As an American he should be THUNDERING at the SHOCKING lack of guaranteed by law support for pregnant women and new moms.

Instead it is – “how will I pay for the hospital delivery, I don’t want to stick them with the bill, with my state rejecting FREE $Billions of Obamacare?” (100% true – many states turned down Federal funds.)

This is pretty laughable considering that it is coming from the Roman Catholic Church; the church that repressed the Jesuits, the church responsible for the Crusades and attacks on citizens of Jerusalem, and countless early popes who were interested in not much more than extending their power reach, extending the religious empire, and in the case of at least one pope, debauching a virgin girl.

The Vatican ought o be more concerned with how to compensate the thousands of modern day victims of a cult of clergy that seems to be addicted to the supple flesh of young boys…..

Time to remove the tax exempt status of the Catholic Church which is clearly a political organization. as for purveyors of death the Church has killed hundreds of thousands during its existence and would consign a mother to her death even if a an abortion could save her life. The Church with its thousand so pedophiles many of whom still lurk within its ranks has no moral high ground to preach to the world its so-called moral views as if they have any meaning whatsoever. better to clean up the Church’s act before sallying into morality.

Burke is going to be out on his sanctimonious lie telling ass really quick. The guy is an embezzeler, he’s stolen millions from US tax payer money that was funneled through Catholic Charities. Burn in Hell, Burke. Other priests have already bound you to the lake of fire for your sins and that isn’t going to be loosed.